I take no joy in watching his considerable gifts curtailed by injuries. He is always an asset to skating, and it will be a lesser sport without him. I'd love for him to spare his body, but it doesn't seem as though he is able to call it quits. It's not our call, of course, but I do hope he figures out the best path for himself.

I went through this with Michelle. It's a sad truth about most sports that someone can be old in his or her late twenties...an age when most of us were still babies in our chosen professions.

Even if Plushenko was clean today, he still wouldn't have been in the top 3 after the SP without a Quad. So at best, his SP ranking would have risen by two and a still about 10 points behind the #1 and 2 after the SP. In other words, his chance of winning this year's Euro is slim to begin with.

How can anyone know that and where is the logic in it? First, if he were not injuried, he would skate with quad or more likely a quad combo in SP which neither Javi nor Amodio performed. Second, no one knows how the competition would go if Plu was at his best. Remember Shefield. Maybe again they all got "boo-ed" like it happen last season. Pretty much the same can be said about Worlds- the outcome is unknown. Nothing is more hillarious than to read the stuff like "the skater will land, skate, do, etc. this and that." Because no one can know that untill the competition comes.

How can anyone know that and where is the logic in it? First, if he were not injuried, he would skate with quad or more likely a quad combo in SP which neither Javi nor Amodio performed. Second, no one knows how the competition would go if Plu was at his best. Remember Shefield. Maybe again they all got "boo-ed" like it happen last season. Pretty much the same can be said about Worlds- the outcome is unknown. Nothing is more hillarious than to read the stuff like "the skater will land, skate, do, etc. this and that." Because no one can know that untill the competition comes.

I think that's a big "If". It's same as saying if Plushenko can return to his body at 22 year old, then none of these guys can touch him. Plus, I was told that Plushenko is not exactly injured because his back problem has always been there - it's an old problem that was never properly healed. Then, despite everything, he didn't have trouble - I was told - with Quad at the Russian Nationals. So given that this is not a new injury and his condition is more or less the same as a month ago, then I don't understand why you are blaming his lack of a Quad on an old problem that he has been living with for quite some time?

But more importantly, he didn't plan on a Quad combo today so let's try not to change the history and said he would have. Why didn't he plan a Quad combo, we will never know. Presumably, he did the same thing last year at Euros so it may simply be a strategic choice - not because he is unable to do the Quad.

In light of his planned elements, even if he had executed everything accordingly as planned minus the fall on the Triple Axel, one can extrapolate his approximate TES by adding back the points he would likely have earned without the fall and adjust for other factors to reach a fairly tight and narrow band of marks and conclude he will still not be higher than 4th. That's what I did in my head. You do a little math and you get to a range. If the higher end of the range is still below the marks received by the 3rd place finisher, then yep, it's safe to presume he will be no higher than 4th at a very good probability.

Its not just about age. He skated fairly well the last season he competed and even Russian Nationals this year. He still has the drive and has always been strong mentally. If his body can hold up and he has time to prepare i think he will still be in Sochi and will be top 5. If he has serious injures i think he shouldn't risk it. Got to respect him for trying though i worry he does himself some damage.

The injuries are directly related to age and this long competing at top level amateur competition, and this long attempting and doing quads though. You cant make them exclusive of the other.

Zhenya already took a gamble by continuing competing and he was reluctant with his form to compete at Euros since Nationals as he mentioned is his interviews doctors advised him further rest but he rushed back to training, hope he takes a full rest, its next year that is the most crucial, I think he will be fine.